Today's News

OK, so it turns out trying to research what’s included in the stimulus plan isn’t as easy as conventional wisdom would suggest.

At more than 700 pages, news networks and other media outlets have their teams devouring the bill—dedicating hours upon hours to attempt to find what any of the $819 billion would actually stimulate, besides the sod at the National Mall.

Of course, depending on who you ask and when, that also changes things quite a bit.

RALEIGH—A South Carolina man convicted of defrauding hundreds of customers in a furniture store scam he ran out of Calabash has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Henry Rayford Privette Jr., 55, of Johns Island, S.C., was sentenced to 168 months, or 14 years, in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Privette was also ordered to pay $1.1 million in restitution.

He was convicted in U.S. District Court on Aug. 13, 2008, for 10 counts of wire fraud.

BOLIVIA—Brunswick County commissioners have approved financing for sewer systems for Sunset Beach and Calabash, giving customers 10 years to pay the assessments in installments.

Those who pay their full assessments within 30 days will receive a 5 percent discount, as recommended by county finance director Ann Hardy, who presented the proposed agreements for approval at Monday night’s commissioners’ meeting.

According to Hardy, county utilities director Jerry Pierce anticipates awarding four contracts for the Sunset Beach project.

CALABASH—Despite what town officials say, a pending Unified Development Ordinance draft will hurt local businesses, merchants claim.

“The town should be representative of the people,” local restaurateur Jeff Sisk said last week following a Jan. 27 hearing that drew a standing-room-only crowd of business owners opposed to the draft as it’s written.

“They shouldn’t impose their philosophy or opinions unless it’s done by the people,” he said, standing outside his family’s Sunrise Pancake House on Beach Drive.

CAROLINA SHORES—Town commissioners on Tuesday voted against contracting with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office to provide additional law enforcement protection for Carolina Shores and Calabash.

The unanimous vote at the specially called meeting came after all five commissioners voiced concern about the minimal annual cost of $150,000 for an entry-level officer, which the two towns would split if both approved such a contract.

SUPPLY—The Brunswick County Board of Education had a public forum Tuesday to discuss the redistricting options for Cedar Grove Middle School and heard the same concern several times from several parents—they do not want individual elementary school classes broken apart and sent to different schools.

Scenario 1 include 310 students from Shallotte Middle, 110 from South Brunswick Middle, 96 from Virginia Williamson Elementary, 69 from Supply Elementary and14 from Bolivia Elementary.

The Ocean Isle Beach Police Department investigated the following incidents last week. All information is taken directly from police incident/investigation reports.

• Larceny of household items and breaking and entering on Driftwood Street. Suspect entered home and removed 12 towels, five washcloths, two three-quart pots, one six-quart pot, one marble roller, five spoons and one box of kitchen bags.